Hemingray Glass Company

RECOVERING AT MUNCIE.

The Marks of Recent Depression Are Disappearing -

A Word About Competition - Green Glass Notes

From Other Towns.

MUNCIE, IND., Feb. 16. - We are gradually recovering from the depression that has had possession of us during the past two months. To say that the glass business in this has been dull would be putting it very mildly. The complete suspension of the window glass business and the partial suspension of the other factories has indeed been very discouraging, but there is a bright prospect now of the busy hum of the wheels in the near future, and unless something unforeseen turns up by the time the next issue of THE COMMONER AND GLASSWORKER reaches us, we will see everything in the glass business again in full operation. The window workers are looking hopefully to the time when their enforced idleness will be at an end. This enforced idleness at a time of the year when production should be the greatest has been a great hardship to many of our people. We do not care to discuss the wisdom of such a move, but taking the argument of the manufacturers themselves in defense of this movement it has removed all argument on their part against a restoration of the wages of two years ago. It has also been demonstrated that the manufacturers can be a unit when they desire to be, and that the cut-throat policy of the past is entirely uncalled for. If all manufacturers in all branches of the trade would adopt a scale of prices that would give them a fair profit upon their investment and would strictly adhere to it there would be no necessity for asking a reduction of wages from their employees; but as soon as they begin to cut and slash prices and demoralize the business, the next cry is: "We are not making any money, because wages are too high, and we must have a reduction of wages." If the shutdown has accomplished the result of causing the manufacturers to make a stand for living prices, while it has been a bitter dose for the workers, it will not have been in vain, and we are hopeful of the good results that will inure to the benefit of the workers.

We often hear the platitude that "competition is the life of trade," but if I may be permitted to utter one, I would say, that "competition is death to the wages of the wage-earners," and in moralizing I sometimes think that we are to blame for a great deal of the trouble that exists in this line. We are often induced through flaming advertisements to take or trade and spend our money where we can buy cheap, and then after we have bought some article very cheap we are constrained to ask ourselves how this can be produced for the money, when, if we were to trace the cost of the manufacture to its first source, we would soon be convinced that the cause for our buying our goods so cheaply was that the labor that produced the article in question had been ground down below living wages. We are thus indirectly and probably thoughtlessly led to give our support to that curse and detestation of every honest man - non-unionism. It is a fact, that I have known glassworkers to buy fruit jars at a price which, if they had stopped to figure a little, they would find would have made it impossible for them to have been produced in a union factory. If we are careless of these things and indifferent to the interests of our own trade we can not blame others should they be unconcerned also. If all workers of all trades would assure themselves beyond a doubt that every purchase they make has been made in a union factory non-unionism would soon be a thing of the past. We can do this in a gentlemanly and businesslike way without arousing the enmity of the community in which we live, and when our merchants understand that they can not sell non-union made goods they will quit handling them. This, it seems to me, should be patent to every worker, and if a little thought would be exercised, we would see the good result of such action. It may not be generally known, but such is the case, that 90 per cent of whisky flasks are made in non-union factories and the wages for blowing the same is about $1 to $1.25 per day., and yet how many glassworkers when they buy their bottle of whiskey for their morning eye opener stop to ask where the bottle was made. Yes, the bottle in nearly every instance has been made in a non-union factory. God speed the day when the union label will be legalized and protected by law, and when every man will insist upon its being upon every article purchased by him.

The Muncie Glass Co. put in the additional shops Saturday, which make this large plant running to it's full capacity. They have been unfortunate in having to suspend production for a short time, but the prospect is now bright for the full operation of their plant till the end of the season.

The Hemingray Glass Co. have gone on uninterruptedly working on their specialties. This is one of the steadiest and most reliable concerns in the city.

Ball Bros. are turning out fruit jars by the hundreds of gross daily. This is indeed a busy place day and night. They have been unfortunate in having one of their furnaces give way, which necessitated the stoppage for a short time to repair the same. A few days more will see this immense plant in full operation again.

The Nelson Glass Co. have been running full and have experienced no delay in any of their departments. There salesman left town very suddenly, between two day. The MORNING NEWS has this to say of the gentleman, which is not very flattering, to say the least: "E. O. Ward, who has been employed by the Nelson Glass Co. for a few months as a traveling salesman and shipping clerk, has left Muncie, and at least three good business firms have reason to regret his strange departure. Mr. Ward came to Muncie from Chicago, and with his wife took a suite of rooms at the Kirby House, where they lived several weeks, until forced to change their location from the Kirby to the Arcade block on East Main street. When the removal was made Ward was unable to settle a board bill amounting to about $65. When the family, composed of Ward, his wife and a small daughter, secured the flat in the Arcade block, they purchased a quantity of furnishings from Youse & Haffner, the carpet and drapery dealers, and from Young & Kreeler, hardware and stove merchants. The man received a salary of $1,500 per year, but it seems that he could not live the rapid life chosen, not only by himself, but by his wife also, and pay his debts. There were numerous very crooked actions on the part of this couple and family. The Nelson Glass Co. saw the true color of the man and he was discharged last Monday. Tuesday night Ward boarded a late train for Chicago, and he will be seen no more. His wife and daughter are still in Muncie, but are liable to go at any time. Judging from information received from reliable persons, Ward has a character on a par with the reputation his wife has made in Muncie, and the city is much better off without their presence. Steps have been taken by the merchants which will prevent them from moving the household goods from this city. Youse & Haffner's account is about $65, and Young & Kreeler's bill amounts to $20, and it is believed that James A. Ward, the house furnishing man, has an account of $75 against E. O. Ward."

The dead beats in this section are getting to be so numerous that it is almost impossible for an honest man to do business. There is hardly a week passes that some of our merchants do not get bit by some one, and what makes this case worse is that this couple came here well recommended, and that their family connections are of the best.   I am also informed that the NEWS article does not tell the half of it, and that there are some more spicy revelations at hand which may only be ended in court.

It is said that Ward has succeeded in talking himself into a position at Chicago with the Muncie Glass Co., but we do not believe that Charlie will have any use for him after the events of the past week.

I am informed that the Nelson Glass Co. have not as yet filled his position and there is an opening here for a first-class man. - MUNCIE.